地道美语听力播客:Driving Directions

I was getting into my car at the mall when I noticed a man standing¹ nearby with a map. He looked confused and I asked him if I could help. He looked up and was clearly relieved. He was from Houston, Texas, he told me, and he was visiting his daughter. She was at work that afternoon and he wanted to take the opportunity to buy her a present before she got back. But, he wasn't accustomed to driving in L.A. and he got all turned around. His daughter lived near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and he needed to find his way back.

I was familiar with that area so I gave him some directions:

"When you drive out of the mall, turn left and get into the far right lane. You need to get on the 10 freeway and the on- ramp² will be on your right. Go about two blocks and you will see a sign that says 10W right after you cross under the bridge. Once you are on the freeway, look out for the exit for La Brea Avenue. Get off at that off- ramp and you will be heading north on La Brea. Go straight up La Brea, past Venice Boulevard, and keep your eye out for Wilshire Boulevard. If you get to Beverly Boulevard, you've gone too far. A good landmark³ to look for is the big Samsung sign on the corner, at the intersection⁴ of La Brea and Wilshire atop an office building. Make a left on Wilshire, going west. Go about six blocks and you'll see the museum on the right- hand side."

The man said that he knew his way from the museum and thanked me for the directions.

I was glad I could help. I don't envy anyone who has to drive the freeways in L.A. It's not for the faint of heart!

 

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

4 intersection   

n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集

参考例句：

• There is a stop sign at an intersection.在交叉路口处有停车标志。
• Bridges are used to avoid the intersection of a railway and a highway.桥用来避免铁路和公路直接交叉。